Power transmission mechanism



Oct. 14, 1952 E. J. THURBER 2,613,772

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l m f).mm M W 3 W ./m mm ww Sw E J .A .N\/\.\\ vm d M M E. J. THURBER POWERTRANSMISSION MECHANISM oct. 1,4, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19,1945 vOC. 14, 1952 E 1 THURBER I POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 19, 1945 -asimple and improved '.form ofreverse Patented Oct. 14, 1952 2,613,772 POWER TRANSMISSION MEoHANIsMEdward John Thurber, NewvOrleans, La., assignm-v to The ThurberCorporation, New Orleans, La., a corporation of VLouisiana ApplicationApril 19,1945, s'eria1No'.`se9,igo

" "sa capes. (ci. 19a- .01 l" The present invention relates toimprovements in power transmission mechanisms-of"theclass adapted foruse in starting and stopping and controlling t'he operationof machinesormecha-y nisms of various kinds,` and rmore particularly automobilesand other automotive vehicles for controlling the transmission ofAtorquelandvaryling the ratio of speed between the engine or drivingmeans and the-propelling means.. l v

O-ne of the primary objects of the invention is to overcome limitationsin and to.. simplify the structure of transmissions of the typeemployinga fluid coupling as heretofore employed in a'utomobiles.

Another object is to provide an improved transmission mechanismemploying a fluid I coupling which may be controlled automatically,semiautomatically or manually.

Another object is lto provide `transmission 'f mechanism employingv aAfluid coupling and having means whereby more effective torque `controlis provided than is obtainable withY such transmission mechanisms asheretoforeconstructed.

Another object is to Yprovide an 'improved transmission of the fluidcoupling type -which avoids or overcomes drag between the 'driving andvdriven members of the coupling while'fin neutral, as when an automobileequipped therewith is stopped and-the engine is idling, -a'nd whichhasheretofore `caused the automobile to creep unless prevented by 'applyingits brakes.

' Y Another object is to provide an improvedtransmissionlmechanism whichembodies a combination ofl a primary fluid coupling of the kinetic typeand a secondary Afluid coupling capableof varying infinitely the torquetransmitted thereto 4from the primary fluid coupling.

Another object is'to provide'a 'novel transmis- 'sion mechanismembodying primary and secondaryfluid couplings, and wherein the torquedelivered by the primaryuid coupling may be transmitted through thesecondary fluid coupling from zero to maximum without varying the speedof the driving member of the primary uid coupling, or the secondaryfluid coupling may be locked out and the primary fluid coupling employedto transmit the torque direct and relatively to the speed of the drivingmember of the primary fluid coupling. y Y Y f Another object is toprovide a transmission mechanism of the fluid coupling of the kinetictype having simpleI meansvfor transmitting the torque in either aforwardor a reversel direction. A further object of the invention is toAprovide gearing fon transmission mechanisms. l

l To these and other ,ends,"the inventionfonsists in certain;improvements and l,com binations,and

Figureiis a vertical .section taken o arrangements of parts all aswillbehereinafter described in detail,xthe featuresA of novelty: eingpointed out" more `particlllarlylf irl the Q13. y the endof.this-specifications, f

In'thea'ccompanying drawings.; Figure 1 is a longitudinalvertical-fsectionwof 10 j transmissionfmechanism constructed gin-accord-'a ancewith the. 'present invention. v

.Figure 2 ,is a detail sectionjgtaken-,lon 2.-'2 in Fig...1.i 5 Y.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the secondary Y, coupling asviewed,fromltliexleft in Fig .l,.

4.-4"inFig. v1. s, ,Figuren isa detail: view-.ofthe manualo-ntrol meansfor. vthe transmission fmechanm-gf .Figure 6 isan elevationfof thetransmission mechanism, showing the manual'gfoontrollingv fmeansconnectedfthereto. f

, Fig. 7 is 'apart planand part i Similarfparts are..designatedby-thelsamer erencefcharacters in the several flguresgl, 1j-

l The inventiony is Vshown'injthe `present instance -asapplied to the:transmission mechanismfofthe V`type adapted `to be used on automobiles,motor boats and otherV automotive vehicles for .transmitting torquebetween the engine orpower plant and the wheels"for-...othervpropelling;means` although it will beunderstood that the invention isapplicable also to power transmissions forlv'arious otherikinds 'ofmachines or machineryiwhere control of thestartingrandstoppingthe-.power applied and the speed of operation thereof. is

desired. n

In the present instance, Al represents theinput or driving shaft,.suchas the crank shaft of the v'engine of Afantautomobile,AV by which power:is .delivered tothetransmission mechanism; land 2 vrepresents theoutput.or.driven shaft through .which power .from the'transmissionmechanism may be transmitted tto the driving wheels,y of the automobilein theusual and well known manner.

'Ihe driving shaft maybe mounted in a; bearing 3 .formed in orsupportedby the front. plate 4 of a stationary casing -enclosingthetransmission mechanism', and the shaft ,2 may be mounted ina bearing 5ina rear vcasingse'ction 6, the 'latter -beingvpreferably secured,.asbyscrewsJLzzto the rear end of an intermediatecasing sectiona,V and rthe forward end of the intermediatesection being suitably secured, as byscrews 9, to the frontjlcasing section-4. l

. A.anintermediate orrotor. shaft lll'u'ejitendsbetween the shafts `Iand `2 and. in aline'm'ent ther'e-y siat ` with, the forward end @tweenlthe-driving and'driven members of Y rear end the'y driving shaft, ravthrust ybearing I'Ibeing provided at the forward end of the bearingcarrier so that the bearing carrier rotates with but is movable with theshaft VIllI in a direction axially of the driving shaft. The

rear end of the rotor shaft is providedl with splines. I8 whichcooperate with splines ISfor-me'd in a sleeve 20 andprovide-"adrivingconnection between the latter and the rotor shaft I0butl permit the shaft I Il to move `axially'relatively.

A pre-loaded spring Y2| is interposed between the forward end ofthesleeve to the sleeve 20.

andthe rear portion ofthe rotor shaft I andiacts'tof-yieldingly holdtheshaft IU in its A` forwardposition-toward thedriving shaft I. The''sleeve-20-is providedA at itsrear'end with a pilot -225-wllich fitsrotatabl-yfin. the driven or propeller f-sh'a'ft 2, and the forwardendofthis sleeve is j preferably supportedb'y an anti-friction or othersuitable bearing-23 which ispreferably.- mounted r"in a`transvers'ewallf 24 which may serve as means l i "to close thejrearend oftheintermediatecas- `ing section 8 and to provide a dividing partition"ftoise'parate the interior thereof from the rear .casing section 6which is employed as yagear The engine "'orldrivingf-shaft I drivesthepump "orfY driving element offaflprimary fluid coupling, fthiscoupling, as "shown, being of the well known kind employedin"''automobiles of the kinetic type .comprising'an annular-vaned.driving member *which acts as Aa centrifugal-pump :and a. juxta- Y berwhich acts as a motonf. Since the constructionand mode vof .operation offluid couplings offthat type are well"known, it is believed to besuillcientY todescribelsuch coupling generally as "posed complementalannularvaned drivenmeml' vvcomprising-:a"driving *member the hub of:which is b'oltedto lavflange 26 onA the driving .shaft ortherwise'xedthereto to rotate therewithl and having an annular peripheralchamber "2lof semicircular crosssection whichV is divided atintervals in itscircumference byfradial vanes 28' into passagesinwhich fluid such asoil-flows uoutwaridly under centrifugal pressure developed vby rotationof the .driving or pump member. The complemental driven .or motor memberof .this fluid coupling has a hub 30 which is mounted rotatably on theshaft I0 and is confined axially 'thereon-between a-shouldertlr on saidshaft and a vcollar..32 which is.` pinned .or otherwise fixed -on` saidshaft.

ing 'or .pump member while the driven member is not rotating or is'rotating-at' a lower speed than that'o'ffthe drivingmember of thecoupling,

fthe oil thus received by the driven member flowing` inwardly thereintoward its center and thus :developing a` driving torque upon the driven:or motor member the 'magnitude of `which depends upon the difference inrelative speed vbecoup'ling, 'as well understood.

The present invention provides` a *secondary fluid coupling between ,theprimary :fluid a cou- -p'lin'g jlust describedr and thedrivenshaftL-:which Thisy driven coupling member y "ha's'anannularperipheral chamber 33 of semi- A Y circular cross section .which isdivided at intervals in its circumference by radial'vanes 34 into'passagesadaptedv to receive oil from the drivthe ` fil, this rotor, asshown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4,

consisting of av circular body having a suitable vnumber of radial armsor spokes 4I therein,

and chambers 42 between the arms and communicatingwith the exterior ofthe rotor through 'passages 43.- YEach Aof these arms is recessed andcontains the gears 44 and 45 of a gear pump, these gears being enclosedby a cover plate 46, and each pump is provided with an inlet passage A4lleading from the respective chamber 42,

anda discharge passage 48 leading therefrom inwardly to a valve chamber49 which is adjacent to the center of the rotor and `extends parallel tothe .axis thereof.y -A valve 5U is mounted slidably in each of thechambers 49, andV each valve chamber 49 and valve 5l) constitutes valvemeans `which controls ow; of oil or fluid to the respective valvechamber ,49 from the respective'pump discharge passage 48. The drivingYshaft of each pump gear 45 has a gear 5I fixed thereto, and thesegears'- mesh with and are driven from a central gear52 which is formedon or`otherwise xed to the hub 30 of the motor or-driven member 33 ofthe primary fluid coupling. The secondary fluid coupling isenclosed by.an annular casing 53 having an outer peripheral portion bolted orotherwise fixed to the outer'periphery of they driving member 25 of theprimary fluid coupling so as to have a fluid-tight t therewith and to beclosed at the front thereby, and the rear inner edge of this casing isbolted or otherwise secured to the flange 54 of a housing whichsurrounds the shaft lll. The couplingmember 25 and casing 53 thusprovide an enclosure or reservoir to contain'a sufficient quantity ofoil or other suitable fluid to maintain an adequate supply thereof forthe operationof the primary and secondary fluid couplings. y K

The valves 56 for the secondary fluid coupling are controlled by asleeve Gil, to which theyare connected by valve stemsi. -The sleeve 5Uis slidable axially on the shaft l5 to move the valves axially in theirchambers 49, and is constrained to rotate with said shaft and thevalvesr by splines 62 on the shaft Hl and within the sleeve. The valvesare urged toward open yposition by a spring 63 whichencircles the sleeve66, oneenol of this and the other end thereof bearing against a bushing65 which fits loosely over the sleeve `[ill and is secured in differentadjustedpositions axially within the hub 66 ofthe housing55 by setscrews 61 whereby the power of the spring may beadjusted as required. l

Means is provided for controlling the valves 50 automatically accordingto the speed of rotation of the driving shaft, whereby the fluid willcirculate freely, or substantially so, and no torque will be transmittedthrough the secondary fluid coupling while the drivingf shaft isrotating at relatively low speed andthe driven shaft is at rest; asduring idling of the engine while an automobile is'stopped, andthe'resistance to such circulatio'n of fluid andthe consequent torquetransmitted through the secondary fluid coupling will be increased asthe speed of rotation of the driving shaft is increased. v'For thispurpose, a governor is provided which is" responslveftofthespeed f ofthe drivingshaft and controlsaccordingly the valves of thesecondaryiiuid coupling. Thisgovvernor, as shown in the lziresentinstance, is of the Vwhen the speed of rotation of the drivingv shaft isincreased',V the governor weights will swing outwardly by centrifugalforceftherebymoving the lvalves 50 toward or to'closed position againstfthe action'of the spring 03, thereby obstructing partially orcompletely-circulation of fluid through the secondary fluid' coupling`and consequentlyk causing torque to b'e transmitted therethrough ofa'magnitude depending onv theextent of closing of the valves.V

Means is alsoprovided for manually `controlling the valves 50 of thesecondary fluid coupling. For this purpose,v the valve controllingsleeve00 is provided with a grooved collar 80 which is connected to movelaxially therewith by4 a pair'of Vsnap rings 8|, 'this collar vbeingengaged Vby the lower Vend of a lever 8 2 which is pivoted on a'shaft 83mounted in the'sides of the intermediate casing'section and the upperend-of which extends through a slot in the-top of said casing sectionand is provided with'aneyejd through which a rod 85 extends, this ro'dhaving a collar 85a xevd thereon at a point where it will be normallyspaced from said eye.' yThe rod 85 serves to operate the lever 82 topartially or fully open the -valves 50, over-riding the actiony of thegovernor to close 'said valves. The rod 85 maybe operated manually inany desired mannenu'but it is preferably operated by the usualaccelerator kpedal or fuelY control element of anautomobile. As shown inthe `present instance, 86 represents the usual accelerator pedal forcontrolling the fuelsupplied to theengine of an automobile, it

being pivoted' at 81'.4 on a suitable support 88 to rock forwardly andrearwardly. A spring plunger 89is mounted beneath the forward or toe endof theaccelerator pedal in a position to 4be'engaged and depressed bysaid end of said pedal when the latter is depressed beyond the fullyopen position of the throttle of the engine, the upper end of theplunger being provided with a cap 90 'which is threaded thereon and thusadjustable into aI position to be engaged bythe toe end of theaccelerator pedal when it has been depressed beyond a predeterminedposition. The plunger 89 is normally held in its raised inactiveposition by 'a spring, the'lower end of-the plunger'being thenimmediately above an arm 9| of a bell-crank lever 92 which is pvotedyasat 93, on-a suitable support, Vsuch as the upper side of the casingsection 8, the other arm 94 of this bell crank lever beingpivotallyconnected to the rod85. Depression of the accelerator pedalbeyond its fully vopen throttle position Willbring the forward or toeend of said 'pedal into engagementrwith the top of the plunger '89,andfurther depression of said .pedal'will depress said plunger, and-willrock the bell-crank lever .93inv a direction to push the l collar 85a'on the `rod 85 against the lever 82'and fzgeiavfra to rock the latter ina direction .to push the.- valves 50 more or less toward open position,depending on the extent to which the .forward or toe end .of

the accelerator pedal is depressed. Suchanoperation relieves, more orless, the obstruction to l circulation of iluid through the secondaryfluid coupling, therebyv relieving correspondingly the -.-when theoperatorof an automobile'desires vto ccele'rate its speed beyond thecapacity of direct drive.

Means is also provided for operating-the rod toppen thevalves 50 of thesecondary iiuid .coupling under control of the accelerator pedal Vo-rfuel control element when the automobile is to be stopped. Such meanscomprises a second bell-crank lever 95 pivoted on a suitable support.-

such as the top of the transmission casing and having an arm-9'!.pivotally connected tothe rod 85. The other'a'rm 98 of this bell-cranklever is normally positioned beneath a vplungerv r99 which is yieldinglyheld in raised position by a spring |00. The y'upper end of this plunger'is located beneath the rear or heel end of the accelerator pedal at aheight to be engaged and depressed by said end of said pedal, whenrocked to or beyond throttle closed position, suiiciently to operatethrough the rod 85 tofully open'the valves 50 and thereby permit freecirculation of fluidthrough the secondary iluid coupling and tointerrupt the transmission of torque therethrough.` Return of theaccelerator "pedal to its normalrange of throttle controlling operationwill permit the plungers 89 or 99 to return to normal position andthereby relieve the Asprings |04'and |05 which are interposed'betweenthe respective sides vof the lever |03 and a pair of collars |06V and|01 secured in suitable positions on' the rod IOI. As shown vin Fig; 1,the lever |03 rests against a stop |08 when' in the usual closedthrottle position .or the position in which the engine idles. Depressionof the accelerator pedal to open the throttle is transmitted to thelever |03 through the spring |04, and When the'pedal is depressed beyond-fully-open-throttle position, the spring |04 will yield and therebypermit such movement; and rocking of the accelerator pedal rearwardlyfto'permit closing of the throttle is transmittedto the throttle lever |03through the spring |05, and rearward rocking of the accelerator pedalbeyond its full-closed-throttle position, at which time the lever |03rests against the stop |08,-is

permitted by yielding of the spring |05.

Means is also provided for manually controlling the valves 50 of thesecondary fluid coupling byv means located on the steeringcolumn or in aposition within convenient `reach ofthe hand of the automobile'voperator. HSuch means -is shown in detail in FigiA 5 wherein'H0-represents portions ofthe conventional ysteerir-lg`lohiinr'iibi'tudinal axis of said lever.

toothed detent ||6 serves'to hold-the hand grip'` in :thedierentjpositions into "which it may vbe rotated. The hand grip isconnected-toa shaft l II'I vmounted rotatably -in the lever I t4, andthis shaft 'is connected V.by .bevel gears II8 `toa-'shaft "H9 extending:longitudinally in the 'tated back to its normal position.

.sacra/m2 @aneautmobilefhaving brackets 'fand ||2 `tliereonwhich'yrotatably support a' tube H3. The upperfgendpf' this Ytube 'has'rfavhandleverV ||4 xedtheretd and this `leveris provided with a hand -grip-l I5which is rotatable on vthe longi- -A spring-pressed tube H3, the lowerend of thezshaft H9 being connected to a flexible shaft| which extendslto thetransmission mechanism and is connected to the shaft B3 whichextends loosely through the lever 82.v The shaft 83 has-a dog |2|pinnedor otherwisefixed thereon, this dog being located at the left-handside of the rlever 82 so that clockwise `rotation of the hand gripV i5,which causes corresponding rotation of saiddog, will rock the lever 82toy over-ride the governor and move the valves 50 to the left towardorlinto open position, thus reducing or interrupting.transmission -oftorque through the Vsecondary fluid coupling. AThe 1ever82 is maintainedin a central position on the shaft 83 by the hub of the dog |2I whichengages it at ,one side, and bya collar |22 which is pinned to saidfshaft and engages the. other. side of said lever.

Means-under control Vof @the hand `grip ||5 is .alsofprovided forholding the-valves 50 inl closed lposition against the action of thespring 53,

thereby maintaining the secondary A'fluid coupling in a condition forthe transmission of full .torque therethrough. Such means, as shown inthe present instance, comprises a spring |23 which is'stronger than thevalve-opening spring (i3-the spring |23 being wound around the shaft andvhaving one end |24 varranged to be engagedI lbyavdog |25 pinned ontheshaft 83 'and its other endVIZ arranged to engage the lever 82 when thehand grip H5 is rotatedin an anticlockwise direction. The ends of thespring |23 Vdo not contact with either. the dog |25 or the lever 82 whenthe latter is rocked toward the right to open the valves 50, thuspermitting full rocking movement of thelever 82y in a direction to openthe.valves. However, when the hand grip v||5 is'rotated in ananti-clockwise direction, the

dog |25'engages the end I 24 of the spring |23 and the end |26 `of thelatter engages the right hand side of the lever 82, and byapplying'sufficientforce to the hand grip to rotate it in saiddirection, the lever 82'may be rocked by a force 'which vovercomes thevalve-opening spring '53 and .thereby closes the valves 50. Thesecondary uidgcouplingis therebyy locked out, and will remain in thatcondition `until the hand grip is ro- The handgrip control thus providedis therefore ableto Aover-ride the governor at the will of the operator,and may be employed to hold the valves 50 in a partially open positionwhich is equivalent to 'holding the transmission in a'lower gear thandirect drive, and-it may alsobe employed to hold Vthe transmission indirect drive yor in condition for` full torque transmission.

Means-.is further provided whereby the operator off the automobile mayover-ride the governor-control and the accelerator pedal and hand gripcontrols and open the'valves 50, thus interrupting transmission oftorque through the 4secondary fluid coupling. Such means'is con-`trolledbyafoot `Apedal |30, which may take'.

fventional automobile.

lthejzplaceof the ,usualvclutch pedal of the coril This lpedal visfixedY to -afshaft |3|-which extends across and is mounted rotatably inthe side Walls of the-transmission casing, and has an arm |32 fixedthereon, this arm engaging in aggroovedgcollar |33. This collarv ismountedon the shaft |0 andis confined :from axial movement thereon as bysnap-rings |34. .Should the operator of the automobile desire tofrelievethe torque-entirely, such-maybe accomplishedby depressing the pedal I30. Such Aan operation offthisjpedalmoves the shaft I0-rearwardlyagainst-the action of the spring 2|, therebyrseparating'thefluid motor 33 from the fluid. pump A25V of the lprimary uid coupling,

Vand also movingfthe rotor^ of the secondary fluid coupling andthe valvechambers 49v rearwardlyA relativelytov the -valves 50 which` are heldfromr such movement by the sleeve 60,1thevalves beingthereby opened andproviding free fluid circulation through the secondary fluid coupling,and thereby completely interrupting transmis- 1 sion of torquetherethrough.v

The present invention-also provides means for overcomingfdrag betweenthe rotating pump or driving member 25 and the motor or drivenmember 33of the primary fluid coupling which heretofore, in automobilesequippedwith such a uid coupling, tends-tov cause such automobiles to creepwhile stopped and the engineA isidling. Such creeping tendencyisf-reduced by the separation of the driving-and driven members .of

`the Vfluid coupling,v but'it isy overcome and'prevented entirely byconcurrently applying. a` brake ycomprising in the present instance, afriction brake disk |40 xed to the collar |33 which, in

turn, is fixed to the shaft I0, as by keys |4l,

and a cooperating friction brake disk |42 which is fixed non-rotatablyin'the transmission casingas for example, to the wall 24 thereof. v,By

depressing the pedal v'|30 sufficiently far, the brake disk |40 is`pressed frictionally against thelbrake disk |42, thereby stopping andholding the shaft I0 from rotation.

`The present invention further provides a novel and' improved gearingwhereby the driven shaft 2 may be driven ineither forward or reversedirection. Such gearing, which is. preferably enclosed inthe gear-box.provided by the casing section 6, comprises a sleeve |`which is splinedlby thesplines |5011. to the sleeve 20 torotate therewith but to moveaxially thereon, the sleeve |50 having fixedthereon a Vclutch member |5|provided with clutch teeth on its oppositey sides,

-mission casing, as by screws |58, said pinions being interposed betweenand meshing with j the gears |52 and |54, and a clutch shifting collary|59 which may be secured to -the sleeve |50 by snap rings |60 at its.opposite sides,which'are locked in their grooves in the sleeve |50-bypins-,Nilv inserted through the collar, Sliding `the sleeve |50 towardthe right in Fig. 1 engages k.the .clutchn teethfen the Vright-hand;side of :the

clutch member with'theclutchteeth .|53 on *the` gear |52, therebyprovidingl a direct forward drive between the rotor shaft I andthedriven shaft 2 through the sleeve 20 which ,is splined Ato the shaft I0,andthe sleeve |50xwhich is splined to the sleeve and sliding the-jsleeve toward the left in Fig. 1 engages the teeth on the left-handside of the clutch member. |5|

with the clutch teeth |5411 on the gear |54, therel shaft I0. f Theclutch member |5| vmay be shifted` by any desired means, it beingshiftedfpreferably by the hand lever ||4 located on the steering columnof an automobile, the tube ||3mounted rotatably on the steering columnbeing provided in the present instance with a lever |60 which is xed tothe lower end of the tube 3 as'vby a set screw |6I, and pivotallyconnected'to one end of a rod |62, the other end of the latter beingpivotally connected to a lever |63 on the outside of the transmissioncasing. The lever |63 is xed to a shaft |64 which extends transverselywithin the transmission casing andris rotatably mounted in its sidewalls, and this Shaft has a shifting fork |65 keyed or otherwise fixedthereon. In such a control, swinging of the hand lever ||4 forwardlywill rotate the.

tube I I3 about its axis and, through the levers |60 and |63 andconnecting rod |62, will rock the fork |65 rearwardlyin Fig. l, andthereby establish direct forward drive from the shaft |0 ,throughsleeves 20 and |50, clutch member |5| andclutch teeth |53andygear |52,to the driven shaft 2; and swinging of the hand lever ||4 rearwardlydisengages the clutch members |5| from the clutch teeth |53 and engagesit with the clutch teeth |54@ on the gear |54, causing the latter to bedriven in av forward direction from-the shaft |0, through the sleeves 20and |50, thereby rotating the pinions vand gear |52, and the drivenshaft 2, in reverse direction relatively to the shaft |0, the ratio ofthe gear |54, pinions |55 and |52 providing a reduction gearing forthereverse driving of the driven shaft.

The operation of transmission machani'sm constructed ashereinbeforedescribed is as follows: Assuming that the proper amount of oil or othersuitable fluid has been placed in the casing 53 to maintain a supplythereof as the operating fluid for the primary and secondary fiuidcouplings-and that the engine is running, the pump or driving member 25of theprimary coupling member is caused to rotate, throwing the oil tothe periphery thereof by centrifugal force, and the oil thus circulatedis received by the motor or driven member 33 of the primary fluidcoupling, causing this member and the gear 52 thereon'to rotate, saidgear causingthe gear 'pumps' in the vrotor..4|l. ofthe secondary fluidcoupling to operaterc'At relatively low:` engine' speed, as while theengine'of an automobile is idling, the spring 63 will hold the'f'valvesv50' fully'r open or ytoward kthe vleft inv Fig.-1, Aas the governorweights .'c'annot 4then overcome the spring' 63 ,and will.` occupy-theiri inner position.-

While the'yalvesjfare in fully openposition,4 theygwill Y uncover VandYrpermit kfull vflow of oilv from the-respective. discharge passages 48fof the gear. pumps', 1' and Vfunder theseconditionsno torque will betransmitted yto the yrotor shaft I0, and the clutch member |5| maybeshifted by the hand lever ||4 tov place the transmission .f

in gear for either forward or reverse drive. A

.An increase in engine -speed,\as caused by, depressing the acceleratorpedal 8,6. will cause the governor Weights A1|), to overcome therspringv 63 and to swing outwardly'toward the position shownA in Fig. 1,thereby .moving the valves .50.- ltoward closed position andcorrespondinglyfref- A.

stricting- `the Ydischarge ofoil from theI gear pumps through theirdischarge passages 48, andy developing a torque through the secondaryfluid coupling-which --is transmitted to the rotor shaft |0,and throughthe sleeves -20 and |50 and the clutch member |5| to the driven shaft 2.Furf therincrease lof yengine speed swingsv the gov-j` ernorl--weightsinto'their outermost position, `as.

shown in Fig. '1, therebyclosing ,completelyl the i discharge passages Y46 .fromlthe gear pumps, and developingfull torque transmission through2- theV secondary fluid coupling. a

While the pump Aor driving member'i25 andi the motor or driven memberl33Vof the, prin'iaryg uid coupling are rotatingat substantially the samespeed, a solid body of oilhexists betweenl these members. Suchacondition is established immediately according to the present invention,since'the driven member 33 of the primary fluid i ,coupling is free toattain4 the same speed^gof rotation as that of the driving member-25 uney til the governor begins to vclose the nvalv esk-v5|lr, the rotor 40consequently lagging behind the; driven-member 33 to an extent whichdepends on the differential between the governorifand;

the spring v63.

However, 'while' the Vdriving member Y'25 andf the driven member 33 ofthe primaryl fiuid Coupling may continue to rotate in-.unisoni thesecondaryfluid (coupling, according'to the pres. ent Qinvention, enables.the torquev transmitted"A fromthe primary fluid couplingto the driven`shaft to bevaried to`meet differentr'requ'il; ments, at the will of theoperator, Yand furltheru more such variations in .torque transmissionmay'. be accomplished without disturbingzthe solidY body of oil betweenthe driving andV driven armeni-l bers of the primary uid coupling.,

ger 89, bell-crank 92, rod 85, lever 82 and sleeve 66 against the actionvof the governor to partially,-

open the valves 50 thereby, relieving to a core responding extentthe-restriction to uid. ow

throughrthe gear pumps ofthe secondaryuid coupling and allowing theengine'I driving .th'e,

primary coupling to increase its speed, the effect manner comparablewith shiftingv to a lowerv gear in fa transmission of conventional geartype.

w-ill1--enable the i governor @Q Valltornatcally resi g the automobileis beingdriven so that, thef driving Yand driven members yfof theprimary, uidcoupling are.y rotating inunison, and the driven shaft isbeingJ driven at Athe same speed as that ofthe vengine-.ordrivingshafaorfsub. stantiallyso, and it isddesird to accelerate 'thevspeed of the automobile at arate vin excess of I that 'provided by suchdriving conditions, suchI may be accomplished yby depressing the toeof.ythe accelerator'Arpedal beyond the full-openV throttle position,lthereby actuating the.l plun-- Beturn of the accelerator pedal to itsvnormalrange of throttle controlling, position.

11iv turnt'he valvesto fully closedpositionfor drivingfthe driven shaftat Ythe same speed as that ofthe'v driving shaft. A`v similar variationof torque*Y transmitted through Athe secondary iiuid coupling maybeeffected by rotating the handgripgj|| on the Asteering colume, thiscontrol embodying the additional feature'of'providing means for holdingthe valves at anydesired extent of opening for fthe transmission of thedesired amount of torque as may be required.

Should the operator vdesire to stop the automobile, as at a crossing,the accelerator pedal maybe rocked-rearwardly, thereby depressingthe'rear or heel end of the pedal and thus causing the plunger 99 tolie-depressed. Depression of 'this plunger actuates the lever 82,through the1bel1-crank- 91 and rod.85, in a direction toopen thevalves50, thereby interrupting'the transmissionof rall-torque through thesecondary fluid coupling. The plunger 99 may be positioned 'foractuation by the heel end of the accelerator pedal by simply releasingthe accelerator'pedal and allowing it to return toclosedthrdttleposition, or'for actuation by rearward movement of theaccelerator pedal beyond closed throttle position.

Ifitfis-desi'red to lock out the secondary fluid coupling, such may beaccomplished by rotating the' hand grip ||5in an anti-clockwise dithepedal |30, the effect of which is to separatey theidriven member 33 fromthe driving member of the primary fluid coupling and to open the valvesV5U of the secondary.l fluidv coupling and thereby interrupt transmissionof torque therethrough. By depressing the pedal to a further extent, thebrakedisk Avis engaged frictionally with the brake disk |42, therebystopping any rotation of the rotor'shaft, and if the clutch member |5|is then engaged with the clutch teeth |53on the driven shaft 2, thedriven shaft will be locked from rotation thereby effectively applying abrake action on the motor vehicle; thus overcome any tendency of theautomobile to creep dueto the drag of the driving member '25 on thedriven Vmember 33, and will also facilitate engagement of the-clutchmember |5| to set the transmission for forward or reverse. Thefeaturesfof separating the-driving and driven members' 2'5 and 33 and/orapplying the brake to overcome drag between said members are alsoapplicableto automobiles as heretofore-equipped with the so-called fluidcoupling,

The present invention vprovides transmission mechanism comprising aprimary fluid coupling anda secondary fluid coupling which receivestorque-from the primary coupling, the secondary coupling providing meansfor varyingthetorque transmitted thereby from zero to full ormaximumtorque without varying the speed of rotation of -the driving shaft. Sucha combination enablesthe motor or driven member of the primary couplingvtcrattain engine speedl at anytime Ywith- The brake |40, |42, whenapplied, will f byv'ariationof the speed of the engine-driving the -pump'oftheprimary fluid coupling;

The governor, which is responsive to the speed of 'the-enginedriving-the primary uid coupling,

may beset to cause full torqueoutput to` be. transf mitted through thesecondary fluid coupling atiV any predetermined engine speed, thuspermitting.

the motor or driven member of the primaryiluid coupling to attain fullengine speed while the vsecondary iiuidcoupli-ngis rotating at' aspeedbelow? engine speed, and the valves of'the sec-4 ondary viluidcoupling,v controlled `by the accelerator pedal, `hand grip -or footpedal, enable fthe amount of torque transmitted tothe driven shaftthrough the secondary fluid coupling to be varied` or to be interruptedentirely, at 'the will Aoftheoperator,v these manualcontrols beingcapable of over-riding the governor.'k

The present invention alsoprovides a simple and improved gearboxstructure for affording forward andreverse drivesffor the driven shaft;it requiring only ra single shiftable clutch member and a cooperatingclutch member engageable thereby for forward drive, and-a planetary gearset the driving lgear of which is engaugeable:by the shiftable clutchmember.f e By placing'the slidable sleeve for the shiftable clutchVmember Within the central driving gear ofthe planetary gear set andextending the shifting collar thereforl exteriorly ofthe gear set, theset'is small and compact and theg'necessity of employing bands orfrictionk clutchesy isavoided." f

1. Power transmission mechanism comprising a powerv'input element, av`primary fluidV coupling embodying rotatablefju'xtaposed complementalvaned pump and motor members, :said pump member being connected totheinput element 5to bedriven thereby, and said'members being `operative totransmit' from one vto the other a torque the magnitude `of which isvariable; according Ato their relative speed ofrota'tion, and a'secondary fluid coupling'embo'dying azdriving' member connectedto saidmotor member of theprimaryriluid coupling to rotate therewith andl adriven member to which torque is transmitted from said driving member,'and means for varying the amount of torque transmitted between saiddrivingand. driven members ofthe secondary fluid coupling independentlyof the relative speed of rotation of said pump and motor members of theprimary fiuidzcoupling, said means for varying the amount of torquetransmitted between the driving and driven members comprising aplurality of controlelements operable manuallv at will and automaticcontrol means; including speed responsive means for controlling saidtorque varying means of said secondary fluid coupling.

2. Power transmission mechanism according to claim 1, including anacceleratorv pedal controlling an engine for rdriving said pump member,and means controlled by said accelerator pedal for controlling saidtorque varying means.

3. Power transmission mechanism accordingto claim 1,.including thethrottle for an engine for driving said pump member and having anaccelerator pedal controlling it, and meansoperable by movement of theyaccelerator pedal beyond full-open-throttle position for operating saidtorque varying means toincrease torque trans- 13 mission between saiddriving anddriven members of the secondary-fluid coupling.

4. Power transmissionv mechanism according to claim 1, including thethrottle for an engine fordriving said pump member and an acceleratorpedal movable in opposite directions for respectively opening andclosing the throttle, and means operable by movement of said pedal inthrottle closingdirection for `operating said torque varyingy means tointerrupt torque trans-v mission betweensaid' driving and driven membersof the secondary iluid coupling.

5. Power transmission mechanism according to claim 1,-inc`luding thethrottle for an engine for driving'saidpuinp member andhaving anaccelerator pedal for opening and 'closing it,`

and means operable by said pedal when moved beyond closed-throttleposition for operating said torque varying means to interrupt torquetransmissionbetween said driving and driven memberscf -thesecondaryfluid coupling. 2 y 1 6:1 Power vtransmission mechanism l.according to claim l, l applied to an automobile vhaving a --steeringcolumn, -anljincluding 'a 'throttle operating relement and meanscontrolled thereby for controllingV the operation v oi said pump `mem,-

ber,l '-and fconti'oline'ans non the lsteering column for operating said`torque varyingmeans to con'- trol the torque transmission between saiddriving .7. Powers-transmission mechanism according to claim-vv l gapplied f-toan' .automobilehavingV a AAV steering column, 1 and 1including a rthrottle operating elementland--means' controlled thereby:forn cc'introllingv the `operation of `said pumpmem -1' ber,lSandlcontrolfmeans `on'` the steering column for' 4op'er-ating Ysaidltorql'e yvarying Jmeansl to interrupt torque transmission betweensaid' driving? and driven-members 'of vthe secondary iiuid coupling. s8; Power transmission j mechanism according to lclaim il, -applied to anautomobile having a :steeringcolumn, landincluding a throttlecontrollingeleinent land-means controlled'thereby for controllingtheoperation of said pumpA mem` ber, -`and'controlmeans on the steering"column for` 'ope rating said torque varying i. means to produce al'iiuid locliflbetween .I said y driving -and a fluid, means for-@drivingthe 'pumping means;

'valve' means"imovabierelativelyto the rotor in a direction'parallel'tVV "theraxs thereof lfor connected to said driving means, andme ans-for shifting the roter and said driven element axially relatively tosaid valve* means and'4 driving ele-l ment to concurrently'fcontrolsaidcirculation of iiuidh and vary -'the vc i'perative relation between thedriving and driven elements of the `iluid coupling.

10. Power `l-trfansn'iission mechanismi according to claim? 9, includingmeans for stopping rotation of said rotor amij'drverieiemntwhen theyare' shifted in a directionto-opensaid valve meansdriven element fromsaid able pomplementalmannular pumpN and motor means operablemanuallyand at e1ements','a secondary fluid coupling embodying a rotor carryingpumping means'for circulating" a fluid, land' driving means for saidpumping" means and having means for driving it 'from said :moto-relement, and a casing structure joined tothe peripheral'portion of saidpump element'l and enclosing and forming a reservoir to supply operatingiiuid for the primary' and secondary uid couplings.

l12.Power transmission mechanism, compris-Vvv ing a primary 'fluidcoupling embodying "roe mot-orfelement of the primary iiuid couplingtobe drivenith'erebyand valves for controllingv said `circulation offluid, speedresponsive means"` for'actuating the valves, and a pluralityVof means operable manuallyand at will rectlyoperating said valves. i

for di- 1'3'.=Power transmission 1mechani`sm,i compris-'n ing 51a;primary fluid coupling .embodying fro-i.

tatablecomplemental 'annular pump and moto-r elements, a secondaryfluidcoupling embodying.

a rotorqcarryingv pumps for circulatingzaifluid,

drivingmeans for the: pumps connected to 'the' motor i element of* the`primary `iiuidY coupling to begdriven thereby, valves forY controllingsaid circulation4` of fluid by said: pumps; -a spring acting on saidyvalves "to 'opentthem,A speed re- 'sponsivev meansH operative on said-Avalves upon increase ofispeed to yclose' them against the' actionofsaid spring-anda ,plurality of controlling will for directly.operating said valves. I

`14.y Power vtransmission mechanism; compris@ ing aprimary'fuidcouplingembodying'rotatable complemental annular.` pump and; motorelements, 'a secondary iluid coupling embodying a .rotorcarrying pumpsforecirculating a fluid,

drivingmeansffor the pumps connectedto the' motor element of the.primary iiuid* coupling to be driven thereby, valves for controllingsaid circulation of fluid by said pumps, a spring acting on said-valves4to open-them, speedresponsive means operative on said valves ruponincrease oil speed' 'to close them against the' action' of "said spring,-and"manual 'means op-'f and open` said valves.

erative'to over-'ride said speed resplonsiveumeans l15.A powerltransmissionfniechanism, com?A prising aV iluid operated clutchembodying *ro--v tatable juxtaposed"complementary vaned pumpand.motor-members operative to transmit' from one.. to ztheiother'a itorque the magnitude y or which is varied according to their relativespeedof rotation-fan accelerator pedal for `an engine for drivingsaidpump member, and another fluid operated clutch embodying a drivingmember connected to saidj motor :member Vofv said 1 first mentionediiuid clutch and a`;d1`ven member to which the-torque is transmittedfrom; said driv'-` ing member and having means for. changing t li eamount 'of torque transmitted betvveengA said driving and driven membersindependently"of the relative speed of rotation`o' f said pump and motormembers, speed responsive i means'lfor controllin'g', 'said' torquechanging "means,- Vand means cont-rolled'by said accelerator'pedalforcontrolling said torque changing means.

16;l Power nsmission mechanism'according to'j'claim -l5, 1ncluding'afthrottle contr lled by the]` accelera said pump" rmen`1ber',and means"'operablet'by" torf pedal; of the' 'engine .igrjdryine -movement .of`the .accelerator pedal 1 beyond-ifull-f open-throttle positionfor'operating said torque changing means; to increase the. magnitude iof torque delivered to said driven member.

.1'7.: Power transmission Amechanism according togjclaim- 1,5, includinga throttle; for the engine forfdriving said'pumpmember,` andanaccelerator pedal'movable 4in opposite directions, for respec? tivelyopening and closing the throttle, and means operable by movement of saidaccelerator pedal in vthrottle closing direction for operating saidtorquechanging,means-.to interrupt torque transmissionbetweensaiddrivingand driven mem-V bersofthe second mentioned fluidv operatedclutch. E, j ,Y

118.2 vPower `transmission mechanism according to claim 15, including athrottleffor'the .engine fori-'driving saidpump member and connected.'to thefaccelerator pedal .for opening and .closing members-of thesecond mentioned iiuidoperated clutch. 2

20. Power transmission mechanism according to claim applied to anautomobile having a steering -column,rand including athrottle operative.by the accelerator. pedal for controlling the operation of "said pumpmember, and controlling means on the steeringl columnfor operating thetorque. changing means to interrupt torque trans.- mission between saiddriving and driven members of. the second mentioned fluid operatedclutch.

- 21.'.Powerl transmission mechanism according to'fclaim 15, applied toan automobile/having a steering column, and including athrottlefoperative by thegaccelerator pedal for controlling theoperation of said pump member, `and controlling means on the steeringcolumn for operatingsaid torque changing means to produce a direct drivebetween thedriving and driven members of the second mentioned uidoperated clutch.

, 22."Powertransmission mechanism according to claim 15, applied`to-anautomobile having a steeringcolumn and including speed responsivemeans, controlling means on the steering column, and means. controlled.by the speed responsive means and .controlled selectivelyby theaccelerator pedal Aand* the controlling means on the steering column foroperating said torquechanging means of the.

second mentioned vuid operated clutch.

. 23. A fluid power transmission mechanism applied to arautomobilevhaving an engine for .operating the transmission mechanism, a steeringcolumn, and a throttle for said engine `for controlling the operation ofsaid uid power transmission mechanism, said transmission `:mecha-A off.saidcontrolling4 elements being operable in.

dependently ofv the {other} of said elements :and a mastercontrollingyelement,operablato over,-l

rideall of the. other.v of .said controlling elements. v

24. A hydraulic power transmission mechanism'v for an automotive vehiclehaving an engine controlled by a throttle operative by an acceleratorYpedal, comprising a driving shaft and aA propeller shaftshydraulicallycontrolled means for transmitting .torque between the driving andpropeller;

shafts at varying speedratios, valve means con. trolling the flow of .acontrolling fluid for said hydraulically controlled means, means forholding thepropeller shaft'from rotation, andmeans con: nected to saidvalve means and holding means and operable independently-.of operationof said throttle and accelerator pedal for interrupting trans-v missionof torquebetween said driving shaft and' propeller shaft andtherebyplacing the transmis sion mechanism in neutral condition andsubsequently holding the Vpropeller-shaft Afrom rotation` and'therebyelectively'applying a brakeactiongto the motor vehicle.rv r

25. Power transmissionmechanism as defined;` in .claim 24,' wherein saidmeans lforinterrupting the transmission yoftorque, and holding the,pro-,-

peller shaft includes a manually-operable con-y trolling elementdirectlygconnected to said valve means and holding means;

26. A hydraulic power transmission mechanisme.. for a motor vehiclehaving an engine controlled.

by a throttle'operative by an accelerator pedal,l

comprising driving and drivenshafts, hydraulicl torquetransmitting-means. for' transmitting;r torque betweenthe,shafts,-including a casingv attached to said driving shaft androtatable thereby, said casing containing fluidpandlapump member in saidcasing attached to thedriving shaft and rotatable to. .circulate thefluid-inthe casing, al motor member in said casing in the path of thecirculating uid and rotatable by the circulating iluid to transmittorque to the driven shaft, a fluid controlled-clutch in saidgcasing forconnecting themotor member to and disconnecting it from. the drivenshaft, and valve, means responsive to the speed of rotationof-one ofsaid shafts or to-movement ofthe accelerator pedal for controllingsaiduid controlled clutch;

27. A hydraulicpowertransmission mechanism as denned in claim26.-'wherein said valve means is rresponsive 'to-,thek speed ,ofrotation of the driving shaft forf connecting themotor member totransmit torque to the drivenshaft.y

28. A hydraulic power transmission-mechanism as dened in claim26,/including means for con- A necting the accelerator pedal tosaidvalve means, and operable to render the fluid controlled clutchoperative to transmit `or to interrupt the transmission 0f torqueby thecirculating fluid to the drivenshaft. .y

29. A hydraulic power transmission mechanisnl isrenderedoperablebymo'vement of the acoselerf- 17 ator pedal to render the motor memberinoperable to transmit torque to the driven shaft by the circulatingiiuid, and means responsive to the speed of rotation of one of saidshafts and operable to again render the motor member oper# able totransmit torque to the driven shaft.

32. A hydraulic power transmission mechanism as dened in claim 26,including a manual controlling element operable on said valve means torender the motor member inoperable to transmit torque to the drivenshaft and subsequently hold the driven lshaft from rotation and therebyhold the motor vehicle from movement.

33. A hydraulic power transmission mechanism, comprising driving anddriven shafts, hydraulic torque transmitting means for transmitting saidcasing for connecting said motor member 1 l to and disconnecting it fromthe'driven shaft, f

valve means for controlling said uid controlled clutch, and a manuallyoperable element for operating said valve means to render said motor 18member operative or inoperative for transmission of torque to the drivenshaft by the circulating uid.-

EDWARD JOHN THURBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,846,879 Kurth Feb. 23, 19321,918,236 Baker July 18, 1933 2,023,584 Harvey Dec. 10, 1935 2,050,836Graham Aug. 11, 1936 2,065,737 Ramsey Dec. 29, 1936 2,104,608 COX et al.Jan. 4, 1938 2,179,518 v Popper Nov. 14, 1939 2,182,407 Phelan et al.Dec. 5, 1939 2,187,667 Sinclair Jan. 16, 1940 2,235,370 Jandasek Mar.18, 1941 2,271,919 Jandasek Feb. 3, 1942 2,280,002 Neracher Apr. 14,1942 2,296,290 Mayrath Sept. 22, 1942 2,296,642 Huebner Sept. 22, 19422,301,957 Lang Nov. 17, 1942 2,326,567 Root Aug. 10, 1943 2,333,674PoWell Nov. 9, 1943 2,449,608 Le May Sept. 21, 1948

